Oil is above $100 per barrel for the first time since 2008.Riots are breaking out in nearly every nation in the Middle East. Dictators around the world are fleeing for their lives, digging in their heels and using brute force if necessary, or buying favor with the populace by handing out wads of cash. Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Yemen, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, China, etc.

But who wants to talk about boring stuff that doesn’t really matter, right? Let’s talk about much more important things like the Oscars, American Idol, or the latest rant from Charlie Sheen.

Think again.

I don’t know the first thing about the Oscars or Charlie Sheen, except for the fact that Charlie Sheen has higher viewer ratings than the Oscars, and yet in the same week the Oscars got a 10-year contract extension, and Sheen’s sitcom was canceled.

Irony at its finest!

Seriously, the oil situation is as volatile as it was in

2008 when it, along with the housing bubble, triggered the last recession.

The price of a gallon of gas locally has already shot up above $3.25 in a

matter of a week. Luckily, this trend is expected to smooth out to a much

more gradual rise. Nonetheless, California is already above $4/gallon, and we are months away from the busy summer driving season and the threat of hurricanes disrupting production in the Gulf.

Hopefully, the experts in Washington will realize that we need to ramp up domestic production of oil so that our economy is less reliant on foreign oil. This week, the administration announced the approval of one, yes ONE, new offshore drilling permit. Importing over 60 percent of our oil supply from the Middle East will affect our economy negatively if supply cannot meet the global demand.

The riots spreading across the Middle East and Africa seem to be breeding each other. The headlines could be a line from the Book of Genesis of the Bible; Tunisia beget Yemen who beget Egypt who beget Iran who beget Iraq who beget Libya and so on. Each time a nation succeeds in overthrowing its leader, another group of opposition leaders rises up against another tyrant/dictator/monarch (you pick the word). The dictators are resisting, the tyrants are shooting back at their people, and a few leaders are stepping down somewhat peacefully despite their personal desire to remain in power.

The headlines of doom, boom, and bust will continue for years if a peaceful accord cannot be reached soon.

With new leadership in government comes unease among the populace, a restructuring of foreign diplomacy and the rebuilding of diplomatic bridges across newly dug political rivers.

America, like several other times in history, must be a calm voice of democratic idealism while setting a steady tone of civilized discourse across the globe during these uncertain times.

The last bite…

Friday night I attended the Open House Party at the Old New Orleans Rum Distillery in New Orleans. Besides the unlimited libations

available, including the Cajun Spiced Rum that I highly recommend, the

entertainment provided by Sick Like Sinatra was interesting to say the

least. However, the highlight of my night was eating a 6-inch-by-6-inch-by 1-inch massive cherry and chili double chocolate brownie. The brownie was so massive, I actually shared some with other people, a rare occurrence.  I give the entire event 4 crumbs! (out of 5)

Buddy Boe, a resident of LaPlace, is a former parish administrator and is well known on the local political (and food) scenes. His column appears every Wednesday in L’Observateur.